Is on a Mission to Educate and Empower the people of Florida

to become a voice for our wildlife, advocate for environmental stewardship,

and coexist within our unique ecosystems.

Our purpose is to bring people together in a shared vision to preserve and protect Florida’s wildlife, habitat, and ecosystem. We plan to accomplish this via science-based education and the development of appreciation and respect for the natural world and our place within it.

Using our custom designed lesson plans, IOF volunteers encourage critical thinking through exploration and discovery. We make it a fun, hands-on experience while showing people of all ages how to put away their phones and connect with Florida’s wildlife and wild spaces. When folks understand the sentient beings with whom we share our state, they learn to respect them, rather than fear them. They begin to realize the importance of the land and water we share. Therefore, IOF offers opportunities for beach cleanups and teaches the importance of recycling. For those who want to advocate on behalf of Florida’s wildlife or natural resources, we are prepared to instruct them on how to be most effective. In addition, IOF will soon launch groundbreaking research which will provide a better understanding of human caused stress in Florida Black Bears and will potentially lead to the proposal of more responsible wildlife management practices. There are over 20 million Floridians and 113 million annual visitors, all of whom can become voices for our voiceless wildlife. When each of us does our part, no matter how big or small, we can all begin to Imagine Our Florida where we peacefully coexist with our native wild friends.

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Our purpose is to bring people together in a shared vision to preserve and protect Florida's wildlife, habitat and ecosystem. We plan to accomplish this via science- based education and the development of appreciation and respect for the natural world and our place within it.

Imagine Our Florida had a great day meeting up with 258 people at the Wekiva Community Santa in the Park yesterday! Slow Mama was able to come out and enjoy some sun as well! Two of our junior educators, Mason and Joseph, as well as Dan, Nancy, and Tom all helped teach how to live with bears (important in this community which borders Wekiva Springs State Park) as well as tortoises and the importance of fire.

“For hawks, the secret is out: There is a hyperabundance of prey” in the city. -Benjamin Zuckerberg

An important take-home message, says McCabe, is that cities, which in the United States are adding an estimated 1 million acres of urbanized land each year, are increasingly important wildlife habitat: “Don’t discount urban areas as habitat.

----Lake Okeechobee: The Problem, the Challenges, a Plan for the Future----

We have entered a new year and with each new year we look towards what the future will bring. Our hope is that it will bring progress. No longer will we dwell in the past but rather we will take strides towards a brighter future.

In an effort to do just that, Imagine Our Florida, inc. has compiled this report explaining the complexities of the Lake Okeechobee water crisis. We have also identified solutions that can be added to legislative tool boxes. We can't simply identify the problems. We must also find diverse solutions and work together to improve the quality of our ecosystems. We hope you will find this report beneficial in educating yourselves or other. Please, take the time to read it and share with your fellow Floridians. Help us continue our education efforts by contributing a tax deductible donation. Let's accomplish amazing strides this year and move Florida towards a better future.

Lake Okeechobee: The Problem, the Challenges, a Plan for the Future. Submitted by Imagine Our Florida, Inc. December 1, 2018 Background Eutrophication is the process of excessive nutrients entering the water. In some cases the nutrient deposits can cause a rapid growth of algae, cyan...

--- American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis ---
Alligators are found across Florida. These large, water-dwelling reptiles have a powerful bite and should be treated with extreme caution. They will generally seek to swim away if approached, but if they think their young are in danger or they feel threatened in some way, they will strike out. Alligators have round snouts, range between 9.5 to 15 feet, can weigh as much as 1000 lbs. and have a maximum speed of 20 mph in the water. The alligator is a rare success story of an endangered species not only saved from extinction but who is now thriving. State and federal protections, habitat preservation efforts, and reduced demand for alligator products have improved the species' wild population to more than one million today. They live nearly exclusively in the freshwater rivers, lakes, swamps, and marshes. The hatchlings are usually 6 to 8 inches long with yellow and black strips. Juveniles fall prey to dozens of predators including birds, raccoons, bobcats, and other alligators so they will stay with their mothers for about two years. They are opportunists and will eat just about anything, carrion, pets and, in rare instances, humans. They feed mainly on fish, turtles, snakes, and small mammals. Adult alligators are apex predators critical to the biodiversity of their habitat.